Although local Dekada Boxing is a professional boxing promotion, we have helped develop amateur elites into pro careers — such as 2-0 Jordan McNaughton, 4-1 Gwyn Lewis and newcomer Bree Howling, who will debut Sept. 28 at the Dekada Contender show, which happens regularly at the Deerfoot Casino.

Dekada introduced a new platform on Dec. 1, 2018, called Fight Like A Pro.

This was an opportunity for regular folks to sign up, train and ultimately compete in an amateur boxing contest sanctioned by Boxing Canada, the national sanctioning body for amateur boxing in Canada.

The sold-out event in December was a smash hit, as 30 people from all walks of life squared off in the Dekada Ring under the lights and cameras and were even featured on Dekada.tv, all to raise money for a local charity, Believe in the Gold.

Believe in the Gold is a Calgary-based kids cancer organization helping Alberta families in the toughest fight of their lives.

The charity walked away with more than $12k raised, and another $2k was donated to Boxing Alberta by Dekada in support of the amateur elite team.

Since that event, Believe in the Gold has made new contacts and new supporters that have put on their own fund raisers, such as Dec. 1 victor and local restaurateur, Cam Dobranski.

Dobanski’s opponent that night was Drumheller ‘citizen of the year’ Jamie Worman. Worman loved the experience, the brand, the sport and the concept so much that he’s helped make it possible to host this year’s Fight Like A Pro in Drumheller, which will take place this coming Saturday at the Badlands Community Centre, which is right next door to the world’s biggest dinosaur. Drumheller has an amazing look to it, situated in the hoodoos and home to the world famous dinosaur museum, even Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie paid it a visit several years back.

This year’s Fight Like A Pro event will be raising money for two local Drumheller charities. The first is the Drumheller and District Humane Society. It’s made up of a bunch of locals who just love animals, and since it is completely self-funded and relies on volunteers and donations, it’s a pleasure to help raise the awareness and the much-needed funds through Saturday’s event. If you pay Fight Like A Pro a visit, you get a good idea of what it is and its passion for animals.

The Morgan Jayne Foundation is also to be a beneficiary this Saturday.

So who was Morgan Jayne? Direct from the Fight Like A Pro site …

Morgan Jayne Makowecki, an 18-year-old daughter of Fred Makowecki of Drumheller, Alta., passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on May 4, 2006 of a sudden liver failure, after a short illness.

Valerie Nelson had been instrumental in the private adoption of Morgan as an infant and had kept in contact with the Makowecki family until a few years ago. Upon the passing of Morgan, Fred searched for and found Valerie, now director of Familias Saludable (Healthy Families) on the island of Roatan, Honduras. She has made a lifetime commitment in working to help save babies whose mothers are HIV positive or have AIDS. They have never had a name for the project, but when hearing of Morgan Jayne’s passing, knew it was to be named after her.

The Morgan Jayne Children’s Foundation is a non-profit, non-denominational organization, staffed by volunteers, devoted to fighting the AIDS epidemic in Roatan, Honduras. We have two focuses. Reducing the incidence of mother to child transmission of the virus both at birth and via breast milk and the education of those children affected by HIV and AIDS. The Morgan Jayne Children’s Foundation supports Familias Saludables (Healthy Families in English). We run testing clinics for pregnant women, assign trained home visitors for mothers living with HIV/AIDS, provide palliative services and, when available, we provide infant formula, medications, and a host of supplies to families struggling to cope with this disease.

All of our services are free of charge and staffed mainly with volunteers, both local and international.

So coming for the first time since 1908, the great sport of boxing will be on display in Drumheller again, as 26 Alberta-based men and women will don the gloves — some for the first time in their lives — and fight their own fight but all for two great local causes in Drumheller.

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